Improving Birth – Rally for Change

Can you imagine going to a cancer doctor or a heart surgeon if only one third of their professional organization’s recommendations were based in scientific evidence? Yet that’s what’s going on in obstetrics in America.

Improving Birth held their first rally event in December, 2011 in San Diego and received local media coverage and affected real, evidence-based changes in the local hospital. This year, on Labor Day, they are coordinating a nationwide effort to galvanize change in maternal healthcare practices. Their website says, “Despite the dire situation, this is not a protest, but a public outreach event …”

Check the www.improvingbirth.org website for a rally near you. September 2, 2013, 10:00 am – 12:00 noon are two hours that will make a difference in maternity care practices as women, men and families gather to make a statement about the lack of evidence-based practice in maternity care.

If you’re an expectant parent, I implore you to own your birth and do your homework.

Start your pregnancy reading with books by Ina May Gaskin, Henci Goer and Penny Simkin. Participate in the Birth Survey to share your birth experiences and the maternity care practices in your community with others.

You can make a difference. Attend a rally, learn all you can about your birthing options and what the evidence says for best practices and advocate for yourself, for your family, for your birth.